After high court defeat, Greek government criticizes judges

The ancient temple of Parthenon at the Acropolis hill is illuminated in background, behind a satellite dish and TV antenna, in central Athens, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016. Council of State judges were expected late Wednesday to rule on the legality of a law passed by Greece's left-led government this year that allowed a tender process for nationwide broadcast licenses, but only two channels have won licenses, and the others are expected to close within weeks. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
(The Associated Press)

ATHENS, Greece – Greece's left-led government is pledging to honor a high court rejection of its attempted shakeup of private TV broadcasting, but its strong criticism of the ruling has drawn a sharp rebuke from the judiciary.

Nikos Pappas, a minister of state whose office drafted the law that was struck down as unconstitutional, says he will present new draft legislation Monday on TV licensing rules.

Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili strongly criticized Wednesday night's high court decision, saying it would cost the state millions in licensing fees earmarked for welfare spending. She also took the court to task over past rulings upholding Greece's bailout program.

In a rare public statement Thursday, Greece's association of judges and prosecutors rejected the "gratuitous attacks," and said the government was trying to embroil the judiciary in politics.